Indiana Pacers: 2009 NBA Draft

- We’ll update our Team
Capsules with more specific info once the lottery is complete.

Indiana Pacers

2008-09 Record: 36-46

Free Agents:

Maceo Baston

Marquis Daniels (Team Option)

Travis Diener (Player Option)

Jeff Foster

Stephen Graham

Eddie Jordan

Josh McRoberts

Radoslav Nesterovic

Draft Picks: 13 (projected)

How they got here:

The Pacers got a much needed facelift
in the off-season, bringing in seven new players and ridding themselves of the
“thug” image that plagued the franchise since the Artest melee. The new-look
Pacers won back some of its disheartened fan base, but missed the playoffs for
the third straight season. Offensively, Indiana was potent, finishing in the top
5 in the NBA in PPG. Danny Granger established himself as an up-and-coming elite
player and rookie Brandon Rush showed flashes of stardom. But where Indiana
failed was on defense. Only the Knicks (107.8) gave up more points per game than
the Pacers (106.2) in the Eastern Conference.

What they need:

GM Larry Bird and head coach Jim
O’Brien need an additional post presence. Troy Murphy had a career year,
finishing second in the league in rebounds and averaging just over 14 points.
But next to Murphy was rook Roy Hibbert, who was as foul prone as Greg Oden.
Meanwhile, the bigs on the bench included an aging Jeff Foster and little-used
Josh McRoberts.

Who they’ll take:

In terms of the Pacers’ post needs,
this draft class is as weak as it gets. If the Pacers remain at #13, the best
available post player will likely be
DeJuan Blair. There’s a shot
James Johnson
or
Earl Clark will be
available, which, in that case, the Pacers will be happy to draft either player.
I also wouldn’t be shocked if the Pacers shop either Jarrett Jack or TJ Ford and
pick up a point guard. A guy like
Eric Maynor would
fit well into O’Brien’s system. My early prediction: Earl Clark.